Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Jakarta Health Office confirmed two deaths of COVID-19 positive cases in December 2023.

"These cases were found after no COVID-19 deaths for two consecutive months in October and November in Jakarta," said the Head of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Immunization Division Ngabila Salma on Monday, Dec. 11.

Antara, Jakarta – Presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto claimed that he's striving to realize President Joko Widodo's ambition of downstream in every sector.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Moving the capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan may seem like a done deal, but now the costly project, conservatively put at about US$35 billion, is being put to the popular test for the first time.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia was granted the honor to head the 34 states-membered Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC), said the Ad-interim Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs and State-Owned-Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir while attending COP28 climate conference in Dubai.

Ihsan Reliubun, Jakarta – It is estimated that the quality of the upcoming 2024 presidential debate would only give a little glimpse into understanding the candidate's commitment to the proposed issue.

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is urging the Indonesian government to condemn the actions of the United States which voted against a United Nations Security Council resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine.

The resolution failed because the US used its veto right to protect its ally, Israel.

Jakarta – Former People's Democratic Party (PRD) general secretary Petrus Hariyanto has criticised the position of his colleague, former PRD chairperson Budiman Sudjatmiko, who seems to be asking that cases of past human rights violations be forgotten and to focus on Indonesia's future.

Jakarta – The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy together with the International NGO Forum on Indonesia Development (INFID) has revealed that Indonesia's 2023 human rights (HAM) index has declined to 3.2 from an earlier score of 3.3.

Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) international spokesperson Victor Yeimo says that the Jayapura immigration office has banned him from overseas travel (dicekal) and refuses to issue him a passport.

Reza Saifullah and Edna Tarigan, Aceh Besar, Indonesia – Two boats carrying more than 300 Rohingya Muslims, including emaciated women and children, arrived at Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh on Sunday morning after being adrift for weeks.

Jakarta – Dilapidated boats carrying an estimated 400 ethnic Rohingya arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province on Dec 10, the chief of a provincial fishing community has confirmed, adding to a recent surge of Myanmar's Muslim minority arriving in the country.

Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – Some two and a half months before the country goes to the polls on 14 February 2024, Indonesia's religious leaders, convened by Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, have expressed concern over growing acrimony in the country, calling for a fair and peaceful election.

Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – A poll by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) indicates that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's approval rating has improved by six points in the past three months.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Police (Polri) Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and Defense Forces (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto attended a community service during their official visit to Papua Province on Friday, December 8, 2023.

Antara, Jakarta – A political analyst opined that using English in Indonesia's presidential and vice presidential debate could undermine the quality of democracy and be interpreted as an instrument to underestimate Indonesian language.

Aceh Besar – Two boats carrying more than 300 Rohingya Muslims, including emaciated women and children, arrived at Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh on Sunday morning after being adrift for weeks.

One boat, which had been at sea for about one and a half months and carrying 135 passengers, arrived at a beach in Lamreh village in Aceh Besar Regency.

Antara, Tangerang, Banten – The Port Health Office (KKP) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, stated on Saturday, December 9, 2023, that it is trying to prevent the entry of COVID-19 amid increasing cases of the viral disease in Singapore.

Medikantyo Adhikresna, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto confirmed on Sunday that the selection of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate was solely his personal decision.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – The head of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Rosan Roeslani, responded to allegations that his team had mobilized village government officials to support the Prabowo-Gibran pair. The alleged mobilization of state apparatus was published in Tempo magazine.

Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid says that the cases of alleged intimidation against artist Butet Kartaredjasa and the criminalisation of Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti are signs that the authorities are beginning to get anxious about criticism.

Jakarta – Gibran Rakabuming Raka is on the verge of a major test, where he must demonstrate his qualifications for the vice presidential role beyond being President Joko Widodo's son.

Preparations are in full swing for his appearance on the debate stage this Tuesday.

Jayapura, Jubi – Mukry M Hamadi, Chairman of Commission A of the Jayapura City Council, emphasized the necessity for the Jayapura City Administration to have detailed information regarding the number and status of Indigenous Papuans.

"The government must compile data on Indigenous Papuans," he stated in Jayapura City on Thursday (7/12/2023).

In recognition of his contribution to East Timor's freedom struggle, President Ramos Horta awarded Sri Lankan civil activist and journalist Freddie Gamage with the highest award of the country's government.

Gamage arrived at Katunayake Airport on December 7. Gamage is a well-known human rights activist in Sri Lanka.

Novali Pandji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Jakarta Health Office notes that from November 27 to December 3, 2023, there are 80 positive cases of Covid-19 in the capital city. The breakdown reveals that 90 percent are mild and asymptomatic, while 10 percent exhibit moderate symptoms.

Yohanes Maharso, Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Most food commodity prices have increased as of Saturday, December 9, 2023. The food prices that increased were premium rice, medium rice, soybean seeds, shallots, garlic, chili, cayenne pepper, beef, eggs, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, and mackerel.

14, 2024., Jakarta – Political observer from Universitas Indonesia Aditya Perdana mentioned that presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo is likely to continue the development of Nusantara Capital City or IKN with a different approach.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto extends his lead to more than 20 points over his rivals in the run-up to the February 14 election, according to a poll released on Sunday.

Prabowo's electability has been on a steady rise since he picked Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, as his running mate in October.

Nabiel Gibran El Rizani, Jakarta – The General Election Commission (KPU) has extended invitations to 11 experts representing diverse fields to partake in the opening of five presidential debates ahead of the February 14 election.

On December 6, 2023, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) celebrated its 9th anniversary.

Jakarta – The prevailing controversy regarding the format of the election debates for presidential and vice presidential candidates does not inspire confidence among the public that the General Elections Commission (KPU) is impartial enough to organize the polls.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – As the 2024 start date looms for Indonesia's controversial new quota-based fisheries policy, experts and watchdogs continue to flag what they say are fundamental inadequacies in the strategy.Introduced by the Indonesian fisheries ministry in March this year, the quota-based fisheries management policy is aimed at maximizing state revenue from the fisheries s

Wamena – Tens of Indigenous Papuan entrepreneurs and contractors in the Mountainous Papua Province protested at the Governor's office seeking assurances regarding job opportunities for Indigenous Papuans.

Jayapura, Jubi – Activists representing Greenpeace, the Central Kalimantan Legal Aid Institute, Save Our Borneo, and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment in Central Kalimantan have expressed strong dissatisfaction with President Joko Widodo's apparent disregard for the failures of the food estate project in Tewai Baru Village, Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Co-captain of the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (Amin) campaign team, Thomas Lembong assessed that the nickel downstream policy introduced by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi mostly benefits Chinese companies, which dominate smelter ownership in Indonesia.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka said on Friday that Solo, under his leadership, has evolved into one of Indonesia's most tolerant cities, vowing to further augment its standing.

Solo is one of the 10 Indonesian cities with the highest perceived tolerance levels according to the human rights organization Setara Institute.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology stressed that the country's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) score in 2022, which dropped by 12 to 13 points, did not reflect the current quality of education.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is in talks with Wisk Aero, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American airplane manufacturer Boeing, to have air taxis in the new capital city Nusantara, although the discussions are still at a very early stage.

BeritaSatu, Banda Aceh – Indonesian authorities have arrested a Bangladeshi national on charges of smuggling 149 Rohingya refugees into the coasts of Aceh in exchange for monetary gains.

Hussain Bakhtiar bin Saber Ahmad, 70, stands accused of receiving approximately Rp 3.3 billion ($213,000) from the refugees, facilitating their entry into Aceh.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – With less than a year left in office and campaign activities for next year's presidential election in full swing, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has made a series of visits to eastern Indonesia that critics say show an inability to keep an appropriate distance from electoral politics.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The Medan District Court in North Sumatra has handed the death penalty to a 60-year-old for transporting close to 43 kilograms of sabu-sabu (crystal methamphetamine).

"We sentence the defendant Wardani Ibrahim to the death penalty," presiding judge Dahlan said at the court on Tuesday.

Abdullah Faqih – The British rock band Coldplay is gearing up for their inaugural concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, scheduled for November 15, 2023. The Indonesian 90s generation, who grew up listening to Coldplay's hits like 'Yellow,' 'Viva La Vida,' and 'Fix You,' is currently abuzz with the excitement.

Denny Armandhanu and Neo Chai Chin, Jakarta/Singapore – If researchers and the authorities had their way, millions of mosquitoes infected with naturally occurring bacteria would now be buzzing around in Bali, helping to fight the spread of dengue fever during the ongoing rainy season.

Jakarta – Indonesia strongly suspects human trafficking is behind a recent increase in arrivals of Rohingya Muslims on its territory, its president said on Friday, promising to work with international groups to deal with the issue.

Jakarta – Suciwati, the wife of renowned human rights defender Munir Said Thalib who was assassinated in 2007, has protested the burial of the former mayor of Kota Batu, Eddy Rumpoko, in the Kota Batu Hero's Cemetery (TMP) in East Java.

Jakarta – Ridwan Mansyur, the judge who tried the suspected murderer of renowned rights activist Munir Said Thalib, was inaugurated as the justice of the nine-member Constitutional Court on Friday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – China has shown interest in building an automated rail transit in Indonesia's new capital Nusantara, although the city's authority body refused to reveal the name of the Chinese investor in question.

Arti Ekawati – Zuhara Bagem, a Rohingya asylum-seeker who arrived with his family in Indonesia's Aceh province at the end of November, was relieved when the boat was allowed to land at Bireuen beach.

"If he had stayed on that boat for another one or two days, my children would probably have died. We had not eaten anything for ten days," Zuhara told DW.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno addressed the presence of Rohingya refugees in Aceh, fearing they may end up being part of human trafficking crimes. Sandia said he was concerned about the situation, and how it could affect the tourism in Aceh.

Yogyakarta – A large banner with the words "Most Embarrassing UGM Alumnus Nomination Submission" and a picture of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was displayed in front of the Gajah Mada University (UGM) in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Friday December 8.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – The Palace refused to comment much on the subpoena given to President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, over allegations of abuse of power by advocates from the Indonesian Democratic Defenders Team (TPDI) and Perekat Nusantara.